Navy Strategic Planning Process for Science and Technology Demonstrations

Program Manager, July, 2000 by Jimmy Evans

Transitioning R&D Advanced Technology Into the Fleet

Effectively managing the research, development, testing, and delivery of integrated advanced technology self-protection systems that meet Fleet requirements to increase aircraft and aircrew survivability is a primary concern and priority for the U.S. Navy. Toward that end, the Strategic Planning Process for technology insertion is intended as a primary management tool. For purposes of this article, the process assumes a Program Manager Air (PMA) office in charge of managing and executing these efforts under the direction of the Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft (TACAIR) within the NAVAIR community. Additionally, the planning process is focused toward projects that are not qualified for an Acquisition Category I (ACAT I) designation under DoD 5000 policy guidelines.

To aid the planning process, the ONR Commanding Officer has established Future Naval Capabilities (FNC) with technology "Spikes" to identify and link technology to requirements. To explain, FNCs are composed of 12 enabling capabilities called Spikes. The term Spikes comes from the process of identifying prioritized capabilities from a pool of technology investment. The pulling effect of these capabilities causes a ripple or Spike effect. Hence, the term Spikes. The 12 Spikes captured from the pulling process follow:

* Organic Mine Countermeasures

* Information Distribution

* Time Critical Strike

* Decision Support System

* Autonomous Operations

* Littoral Antisubmarine Warfare

* Total Ownership Cost Reduction

* Missile Defense

* Platform Protection

* Expeditionary Logistics

* Warfighter Protection

* Capable Manpower

Some characteristics of Spikes should include: significant technology options and operating concepts; significant or sufficient budget; definite milestones and objectives; deliverables; and well-defined demonstrations.

The FNCs are still in the development process and will not become active until Fiscal Year 2002.

An Innovative Approach

The Strategic Planning Process outlines a historical and proven method that addresses TACAIR platform protection requirements and could serve as a guideline for the Platform Protection Spike of the FNCs.

A proactive approach, the planning process provides a formal procedure for the selection of proposed advanced technology programs for urgent Fleet requirements. The data gathered as a resuit of this process should be used to provide Fleet and operational input to Science and Technology (S&T) programs as well as set forth a road map to transition Research and Development (R&D) advanced technology into the Fleet. Since Advanced Technology Demonstrations and Concepts are non-ACAT, no formal procedures are established for incorporating these technologies into existing programs.

Strategic Planning Process is viewed as a "living" document that must be adapted and changed to meet demands dictated by an ever-changing acquisition environment. It provides the overall strategic-direction philosophy needed to manage cost-effective programs in today's environment of reduced resources, while at the same time serving as the road map to meet Fleet requirements for increased aircraft self-protection. It should be revisited and revised annually or more frequently as required.

In major system/end item acquisition, the Requirements Generation System as described in Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction (CJCSI) 3170.01A sets forth a formal process that identifies Service deficiencies through a continuing evaluation process by reviewing the latest National Security Policy, National Military Strategy, Defense Planning Guidance, Commander in Chief Integrated Priority List, Joint Intelligence Guidance, and projected worldwide threats provided by the intelligence community. This information is then incorporated into a formal document called Mission Area Analysis (MAA).

The MAA identifies the operational and support tasks needed to meet mission objectives from a broad scale. The CJCSI also provides for Service requirements to be identified through a DoD component-generated Mission Need Analysis (MNA). The MNA evaluates Service deficiencies using a task-to-need methodology to identify mission needs and looks across DoD component boundaries for solutions. An integral part of the process consists of identifying opportunities to exploit technology breakthroughs, which provide new capabilities that address established needs, reduce ownership costs, or improve the effectiveness of current equipment and systems. The MNA also identifies the time-based nature of the need and the specific time frame the need is expected to exist.

Before a new program is initiated, both material and nonmaterial solutions are explored. An analysis of alternatives is also conducted. When a DoD component has determined that a material solution should be pursued, an MNS will then be prepared.

The problem with this formalized system is that it does not account for non-ACAT I system acquisitions. In the system acquisition environment, specifically aircraft self-protection systems, an urgent requirement is usually identified during operational mission scenarios, oftentimes as a result of a new or improved threat system being identified in the theater of operations. The requirement is urgent, and a solution is needed well before an MAA or an MNA is completed or an MNS is generated. Ideally, the new requirement was anticipated long before the operational forces needed the system, and an MNS has already been prepared and staffed. But as is often the case, the urgent requirement was not pre-determined, and a need exists to provide a solution well before the formal system described in CJCSI 3170.01A can react.